Thesis: Even though they are not a traditional family, same sex couples can be great parents because no evidence supports that children are negatively affected and having the ability to provide love and stability is what a child needs most.
I. There is a large amount of children going in and out of foster care.
A. In 2005, there were an estimated 513,000 children in foster care.
1. 310,000 children entered foster care in 2005.
2. 287,000 children exited foster care in 2005.
B. From 2000-2005 the number of children in foster care as of September 30th dropped, while entries into and exits from foster care during those years increased.
II. The length of stay for foster care.
A. Between entering and exiting foster care it may be days, months or years.
1. 17% of children were in foster care less than a month.
2. 33% of children were in foster care 1-11 months.
3. 22% of children were in foster care 12-23 months.
4. 11% of children were in foster care 24-35 months.
5. 9% of children were in foster care 36-59 months.
6. 8% of children were in foster car 5 or more years.
B. There are several factors that effect the stay.
1. Parental rights being revoked.
2. Adoptions
3. Living with relative or guardian
III. Solutions to decrease amount of children in foster care.
A. More programs to assist parents who need help.
1. Parents need more preventative interventions.
2. Children services actively investigating
B. More enforcement for absent parents to support children.
1. Parents need help collecting child support .
2. There should be more consequences from not paying child support.
C. Acceptance of same sex adoptions
1. Same sex parents are not bad.
2. They can provide safe, loving and happy homes.
3. There is no evidence that the children will be harmed.
IV. The Arguments for same sex adoptions
A. Same Sex couples are able to provide stability and loving upbringing.
B. Same sex adoptions offer children 2 parents.
C. There is a shortage of...